Ampersand Counseling Collective | Effective date: June 1, 2025 | Last updated: October 29, 2026
1. Introduction
Ampersand Counseling Collective (“we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect information when you visit https://ampersandcollective.net (the “Website”) or contact us through it.
This policy covers information collected through the Website. It does not replace each clinician’s individual Notice of Privacy Practices, which explains how your protected health information (PHI) is handled once you become a client. You will receive that notice at or before your first appointment, and a copy is available from your psychotherapist.
This Website is not for emergencies. If you are in crisis or believe you may harm yourself or others, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S.), call 911, or go to your nearest emergency room.
2. Information We Collect
Information you give us
- Contact web form: your name, email address, phone number, and any message you choose to include. Submissions are delivered to us by email.
- Online booking: your name, contact details, and the appointment times you choose. Bookings are processed through Sessions Health.
- Patient portal: the information you submit through our secure third-party platform, Sessions Health, is used for the onboarding process. Clinical information submitted there is handled under our Notice of Privacy Practices.
Please do not include detailed health or clinical information in contact forms or regular email. Our inquiry form is processed by email, which may not be a secure way to send information, and the form says so before you submit it. Regular email has the same limits. Use our secure client portal for clinical communication once you are a client.
Information collected automatically
When you visit the Website, we and our service providers may automatically collect:
- IP address, browser type, device type, and operating system
- Pages viewed, time spent, and referring website
- Cookies and similar technologies (see Section 5)
3. How We Use Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Respond to your questions and requests.
- Schedule and manage appointments and consultations.
- Operate, maintain, and improve the Website.
- Protect the security of the Website and prevent misuse.
- Comply with legal and professional obligations.
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use it for third-party advertising.
4. How We Share Information
We share information only as needed and only with:
- Service providers who help us run the Website and practice (for example, web hosting, scheduling, secure messaging, telehealth, email, and payment processing). Where they handle protected health information, we use written agreements (Business Associate Agreements) that require them to safeguard it.
- Legal and safety exceptions: when required by law or court order, to protect someone from serious and imminent harm, to report suspected abuse or neglect as required by law, or to comply with a licensing board.
- Business transfers: if the practice is sold, closed, or merged, in accordance with applicable law and professional ethics rules governing client records.
Clinical information is subject to additional protections under HIPAA, state law, and professional ethics, as described in your psychotherapist’s Notice of Privacy Practices.
5. Cookies and Analytics
The Website uses cookies, small files stored on your device, to function properly and to understand how visitors use the site. We use:
- Essential cookies needed for the Website to work
- Analytics cookies [e.g., Google Analytics, configured to anonymize IP addresses].
We do not use advertising or tracking pixels (such as the Meta/Facebook Pixel) on pages where you may share health-related information.
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling some cookies may affect how the Website works.
6. Telehealth
If you attend sessions by video, we use Sessions Health, a platform designed to support HIPAA-compliant telehealth, or Google Meet, which is configured to be HIPAA-compliant according to our Business Associate Agreement. Sessions are not recorded. Please attend from a private location and use a secure internet connection. Additional telehealth consent information is provided in your client paperwork.
7. Email, Text, and Phone
Standard email and text messages are not fully secure, and that includes inquiry form submissions, which reach us by email. The form tells you this before you submit. If you contact us by these methods, you accept some risk that others could intercept them. We recommend limiting these messages to scheduling and logistics. If you give us your phone number, we may leave voicemails or texts about appointments only if you have told us it is okay to do so. You can opt out of non-essential messages at any time.
8. Data Retention
We keep website inquiry information only as long as needed to respond to you and for our legitimate business purposes if you do not become a client. Clinical records are kept for the period required by Washington state law and professional standards, then securely destroyed.
9. Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect information, including encryption in transit, access controls, and use of vetted service providers. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. If a breach affecting your information occurs, we will notify you as required by law.
10. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:
- Know what personal information we hold about you.
- Request access to, correction of, or deletion of your information.
- Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information (we do not sell it).
- Not be discriminated against for exercising your rights.
Clients: Your rights over your health records, including to access, request amendments, and receive an accounting of disclosures, are described in your psychotherapist’s Notice of Privacy Practices. Some requests (for example, deletion of clinical records) may be limited by law.
If you are in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, we process your information based on your consent, our legitimate interests in operating the practice, and legal obligations. You also have the right to object to or restrict processing, to data portability, and to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
To make a request, contact us using the details in Section 13. We may need to verify your identity first.
11. Children’s Privacy
The Website is intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13 through the Website. Parents or guardians seeking services for a minor should contact us directly. Treatment of minors is governed by our consent and paperwork process and applicable state law.
12. Third-Party Links
The Website may link to other sites, such as directories, resources, or payment pages. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Please review their policies.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions about this policy or want to make a privacy request:
Ampersand Counseling Collective
365 Ericksen Ave NE, Suite 320
Bainbridge Island 98110
Email: care@ampersandcounseling.net
Phone: 425-340-5317
14. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top shows when changes were made. Material changes will be noted on the Website.